What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?

What vegetables can dogs eat? Can dogs eat tomatoes? And can dogs eat carrots, celery, avocados and corn? Learn what vegetables are safe for dogs, what vegetables are good for dogs — and which veggies dogs should avoid.

What vegetables can dogs eat? Can dogs eat tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, corn and other vegetables? This is a question — like “can dogs eat apples, grapes, strawberries and other fruits?” — that I’ve often asked myself while strolling through the local farmers’ market or the produce section of the grocery store. Here at Dogster, let’s answer the question, “What vegetables can dogs eat?” by looking at the dos and don’ts for a few common vegetables:

Are tomatoes safe for dogs to eat? The answer is it’s complicated. Photography by Tatiana Katsai / Shutterstock.

Are tomatoes safe for dogs to eat? Sort of — and be careful. Large quantities of tomato should not be fed to dogs; ingested in great enough volumes, naturally occurring chemicals in the fruit can cause heart and nervous system problems.

However, this may cause some consternation, but in small quantities, the tomato fruit is okay for dogs. There has long been debate on dogs and tomatoes, but the worst a little bit of ripe tomato will do to a dog is cause some stomach upset.

The green parts of the tomato plant — the vine, leaves, stems and unripe fruit — are another matter altogether. Solanine is a chemical found in high concentrations in these parts. One of the tomato’s natural defenses, solanine is found throughout the nightshade family, including the tomato and potato. If you have tomatoes in your garden, you’re better off keeping the dog out.

Another common question dog parents have when thinking, “What vegetables can dogs eat?” concerns carrots. Your dog is safe with carrots, preferably cut up into smaller sticks or pieces that they can easily chew on.

Interestingly enough, too much celery can cause dogs to urinate a great deal more than usual. But cut into small, chewable, digestible pieces — with the leaves removed— celery is okay for dogs in limited amounts.

Cucumbers are safe for dogs to eat. Look at this tiny gentleman gnawing on one! Photography by Little Moon / Shutterstock.

Another common vegetable to consider when thinking, “What vegetables can dogs eat?” is cucumbers. Especially if it’s peeled and given in chewable portions, cucumber is fine for dogs. As for pickles, the excess of vinegar and salt in pickles may be a bit more than your dog’s digestive system would appreciate.

Parts of the avocado tree and fruit contain a natural antifungal agent called persin, which is hazardous to dogs when consumed in great enough quantities. Needless to say the pit or seed of an avocado should not be given to a dog; aside from the natural toxins it contains, it can cause intestinal blockages. However, it’s safe for dogs to eat the green, fruit part of an avocado in small amounts.

Is corn okay for dogs to eat? What about popcorn for dogs?Photography by Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH / Shutterstock.

While the kernels of ripe corn are okay for dogs, the cob itself is a bit more dangerous. Ingested by a dog, even small pieces of corn cob can tear at and cause damage to the walls of a dog’s digestive tract. As for popcorn, take common-sense precautions. Plain and unadorned — that is to say, air popped, with neither salt nor butter — popcorn can be a nice treat for a dog. Bottom line: served in an appropriate manner, both corn and popcorn are safe for dogs to eat.

6. Can dogs eat broccoli?

Broccoli is another staple to consider when questioning, “What vegetables can dogs eat?” In very small amounts, the head of broccoli should not present any issues for your dog, but only in very small amounts. Received wisdom across multiple sources suggests that if it accounts for no more than five to 10 percent of a dog’s daily food intake, broccoli is all right for dogs. More than that and you can have a dog with a severely upset stomach. Therefore, broccoli is another yes and no affair; use your best judgement.

Are potatoes safe for dogs to eat? Photography by WilleeCole Photography / Shutterstock.

As with tomatoes, the leaves, stems and unripened fruit of potato plants contain solanine, which is toxic to dogs. Even ripe, a potato is not a good idea for dog nutrition. Peeled, and then cooked or mashed, on the other hand, your dog may enjoy a bit of potato. Observe the same caution you would with popcorn, and make sure there’s no salt or butter present. The same — no additives — goes for sweet potatoes, even though they are fundamentally different plants.

Eaten by dogs, onions cause red blood cells to break down, a condition called hemolytic anemia. The breakdown of red blood cells means that the dog gets less oxygen. The more concentrated the onion, the more quickly it works.

Can dogs eat garlic? Your dog should avoid garlic as well for the same reason. If you’re like me and enjoy onion in your guacamole, it’s even more a reason to keep that avocado dip you find delicious well away from your dog. The answer here is definitely no.

9. Can dogs eat asparagus?

Asparagus is another household veggie that crops up when thinking, “What vegetables can dogs eat?” Well, as long as the amount is small and reasonable, asparagus presents no problems for dogs.

10. Can dogs eat green beans?

Green beans, in moderation, are fine for dogs. Raw or cooked, as long as you avoid salt and other additives, your dog may enjoy some green beans.

11. Can dogs eat peas?

If you dog has a taste for peas, then by all means, let them have a few! When it comes to, “What vegetables can dogs eat?” this one is a yes.

In 1816, Richard Lawrence wrote that “parsnips, carrots, cabbages, and, indeed all vegetable matter, will feed dogs sufficiently well for the purposes of their existence.” Fortunately, we know better now to steer our dogs clear of avocado and onion, as well as to keep them from many unripened vegetable plants in the garden.

Tell us: What kinds of vegetables do your dogs seem to enjoy? Have you ever offered a carrot stick to your dog, only to be met with a blank stare? Let us know about your dog’s experiences with veggies in the comments!

34 comments on “What Vegetables Can Dogs Eat?”

Thanks for the post about fruits & veggies. My dog’s favorite treat is kohlrabi, & will come when she knows I’m peeling one, or at least she knows the sound when they’re cut, & certainly when I bite into a piece. She also loves a few pieces of popcorn, but will not touch it w/o a little butter on it.

I give my dogs carrots sticks almost as a daily lunch treat. They love it. I sometimes cut&cook apples & spinach as an addition to their normal kibble. They love it as well. I also chop up celery and add to their kibble as well. Because it is chopped up they eat it all up. I throw in peas, carrots or corn depending on what I have.

My Chihuahua loves sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, green beans, peas and corn. I chopped up celery and mashed it into soft food yesterday and she ate it all up…I did the same with cooked broccoli yesterday too. She gets constipated at times so I’m trying to give her more vegetables to aid in her digestion. She absolutely loves a spoonful of peanut butter and sometimes she’ll eat cooked carrots and the same with bananas…usually she’ll eat those from my hand though because she is picky at times. Lol

Every time I get a ripe tomato from the cupboard, my Japanese Chin runs in the kitchen and waits for a slice cut in pieces. My Maltese,however, doesn’t care for tomatoes and will actually eat around it if I add to their dog food. So, dogs obviously have different tastes for foods just like us humans.

My Mina (husky) loves her carrots she’s been eating them since I brought her home at 8 weeks old, Since then I added bananas in the morning she gets carrots at 3pm with her sister(my daughter) and Mina let’s us know what time it is for her carrots, she’s so smart! We give her blueberries as treats for going potty and as a special treat I give her frozen strawberries, she really loves them.

my lab-rottie has a fresh, raw once-daily meal: a quarter-pound lean ground beef (hormone and anti-biotic free: expensive? cheaper than cancer treatments), a half cup organic rice, 1 cup spinach, 1 med. : carrot, celery, beet, tomato, bell pepper and a half zuccini…. looks like fine cole slaw after blended in my mini-(easy-clean) blender, oh, and topped with Udo’s Oil (1 teaspoon, for fresh essential fatty acids. She is almost 7 years old, but she is ultra soft and shiny and her weight is ideal. And best of all… she LOVES it and licks the bowl clean.

My friends all laugh and say if I ate like Gracie, I’d be more fit myself. So, now, after acknowledging there’s some truth in that, when I make hers, I make a georgeous salad for me… and add a dressing of fresh lemon juice/healthy oils (1:2) , (those commercial dressings can defeat the whole purpose, read the Nutrition Facts.) The beets and carrots go thru a julienne (hand-held) slicer, and I add romaine and red onion to mine. Once I start eating it, I realize that I’m really craving these gloriously nourishing and cleaning foods… its a win/win!

I have 4 dogs (ages 3 – 10) all thriving very well on a plant based diet (they don’t eat any animal parts -including rawhide- or dairy or eggs) Never any gastrointestinal issues, or any isues at all really. They love their V Dog kibble and they get fresh fruits and veggies as toppings and as treats through the day. They also get ground flaxseed, hemp seeds and chia seeds sprinkled on their food 4 times a week. They all lick their bowls clean everyday, and are happy & healthy! Dogs can do very well on a plant based diet (the info is out there), but the parents must do it right & do the research. But for me, it’s worth it in order to not feed dead animals to my beloved animals. They deserve better.

Every day with lunch, i put cucumber and carrot peels with my chihuahas food. He LOVES vegetables and fruit! Of course, I’m careful with what I give him which is why i’m here, but him and I are fruit and vegetable addicts, haha.

My 10 year old Carin Terrier LOVES carrots, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, apples, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, watermelon. WHEW! Lol All in moderation of course! :)) I make bone broth for him and save the veggies that have been simmering in that deliciousness for 36 hrs to add a little at a time to his food. Spoiled boy! ❤️

Our 4 yr ol golden-doodle loves pieces of carrot or whole baby carrots. We have a whole apple slicer that cuts it into pieces. So she always gets a piece or two. Other than occasional pieces of popcorn, that’s it.

Just reading your comment. Look into baby carrots. They soak them in lye. Do some research. I was buying them for myself and stopped. Also, you have to think of all pesticides put on these fruits and veggies. I think I saw that on u-tube. If I get another dog, I will add fruits and veggies to dry food. Get organic.

To encourage my Chihuahua to lick the bowl clean and get all of a crushed pill, I dissolved it in a small amount of coconut oil. She loved it enough to go back and lick an empty bowl just to be sure and that was standard for several years. I switched to chicken broth for quite awhile. She’s 13 and carrying her home from walks seemed on par. Then I went back to coconut oil and within a week or so she didn’t stop to be picked up and carried, very surprised. She eats peas and dry food in the morning with a few drops of Braggs in the oil and switch mixed veg for peas in the evening. Many good ideas in these comments. Maybe oil can help someone else. The Braggs is helpful against itch and scratch.

I’ve given all my pups carrot stick to help when teething and continued to do so with them when adults to help keep their teeth clean…..they all seem to enjoy a carrot stick ice lolly in hot weather.
A little cooked broccoli, carrot, peas, brussel sprout and cabbage (not all at once!) add a little alternative taste to kibble; cucumber I have never thought to offer but will give it a try.
I had a gs who loved helping herself to the occasional nut from the bowl at christmas time and my current jr pinches peanut from the parrot

My dog loves carrot,peas, green beans, broccoli, cucumber all in small amounts but she really goes for the baby carrot you show here one and she grabs it out of your hand runs into the livingroom and chows down. I never give her onions,grapes,raisins, chocolate as I know they aren’t good for dogs she also like a very small small handful of peanuts for her bedtime snack.

Every fruit or vegetable I have, my Maltipoo begs for. I look everything up the first time to be sure he can have it. The only thing he didn’t want, after a good taste of it, was a blueberry. He will try to chew a spinach leaf, but it does n’t seem to go down. I find it in pieces all over. He loves romaine, celery, carrots, peas, banana, honeydew, and orange. He also loves plain, fat-free greek yogurt and chicken!

I think frozen veggies are a nice treat when it’s hot outside, better than ice cubes, which can break their teeth. I think corn and other grains are difficult for them to digest. A little olive oil on their dry food helps keep their fur nice and shiny- eggs do the same!

I have a 18 month old black lab, he loves his veggies. I give him carrots, green beans, he likes cucumbers and radishes and for some fiber in his diet I incorporate one tablespoon of can pumpkin to his meals he loves the taste of it. Once a week, generally on Sundays, he gets a cooked egg for maintaining his shinny fur.